How to make a contact QR code
One scan saves your name, phone, email, and website straight into someone's contacts, perfect for a business card, a name badge, or an email signature.
A contact QR code encodes your details in a structured text format so a phone can create a new contact automatically. Instead of typing your number from a paper card, a person scans the code and taps save. It works offline, never expires, and you control exactly which fields you share.
Two formats: MECARD and vCard
There are two common ways to encode a contact. Both scan on modern phones; pick whichever fits.
- MECARD is compact, so the QR code stays small and easy to scan. Good for a phone number, email, and website.
- vCard is the fuller standard used by address books. It carries more fields (job title, company, address) but makes a denser code.
MECARD format
Paste this into the generator, replacing the sample values:
MECARD:N:Silva,Ana;TEL:+15551234567;EMAIL:ana@example.com;URL:https://example.com;;
- N is the name as
Last,First. - TEL is the phone in international form, like
+1or+55. - EMAIL and URL are optional but useful.
- Close the string with
;;.
vCard format
Use vCard when you want company, title, or address. Each field goes on its own line:
BEGIN:VCARD VERSION:3.0 N:Silva;Ana FN:Ana Silva ORG:Example Studio TITLE:Designer TEL;TYPE=CELL:+15551234567 EMAIL:ana@example.com URL:https://example.com END:VCARD
FN is the formatted display name; N is the structured Last;First. Keep only the lines you need and remove the rest.
Which fields to include
More fields make a denser, harder-to-scan code. Include what matters and drop the rest:
- Always: name and one reliable way to reach you (phone or email).
- Often: website or portfolio link, company, and title.
- Rarely: full postal address, which lengthens the code a lot. Consider linking to a page instead.
Test before you print
- Scan the code with both an iPhone and an Android phone if you can; contact parsing differs slightly between them.
- Check that the saved contact shows the right name, number, and email.
- Print at a size the code stays sharp, and keep a quiet margin around it so scanners lock on.
Good places for a contact QR
- A corner of a printed business card.
- A conference badge or lanyard.
- An email signature or slide.
- A shop window or market stall for quick follow-up.
Everything is generated in your browser, so your details are never uploaded or stored. Create your contact QR code, or make a Wi-Fi QR code next.